I know nothing about French football. I should say that from the off. I also have very little interest in the Champion’s league normally, because I find it frankly boring, with practically the same teams involved every year.
But obviously, I’m taking more notice this year and have been watching the games.
I’ve come to the conclusion that while some sides are very good, it seems to me that many are overhyped. Or is it just that we’ve excelled in our previous qualifiers? It’s a very subjective thing, but I don’t think we’ve looked very good in our games, the Bayern one apart. Mind you, I don’t think we’ve looked very good for most of the season, but the reality is we’re still very much in the mix.
That’s not to say I think Monaco are rubbish. I don’t think much of Ligue 1, a few teams apart but they do have a few decent sides, of which Monaco appear to be one. They’re a very young side, the third youngest in their league, but reading around tells me they’re very tenacious. They’ve made the most tackles, ball recoveries and second-most interceptions of any team in the French top flight. They’re also fourth in the table. So definitely no mugs then, although I should probably add that they’ve been on a poor run of late.
Hence it would seem it’s by no means going to be easy. My lack of European football knowledge makes it a bit tricky to give an opinion, but I can have a guess or just give my feelings.
And while I don’t want to jinx us, I do think we can get something from this game. A win wouldn’t make us mathematically certain to qualify automatically, but it would put us in a very strong position and however you look at it, that would be some achievement.
A draw obviously wouldn’t be as good, but you’d have to think that with our last game being Celtic at home, we would still be in with a very good chance
And that’s what I’m going for.
We always look like we’re going to concede, although it seems we’re looking to address this weakness, with a young full back, Andreas Garcia announced as having been signed from Levante just this morning and a central defender being in the offing who will replace Diego Calos who is apparently going to Fenerbache, if Wolves can’t persuade him to join them.
Squad news and John McGinn remains out with injury. He’s also looking doubtful for the Celtic game. Amadou Onana limped off against Arsenal on Saturday and is also very doubtful. Ross Barkley and Pau Torres are both injured and Diego Carlos is suspended, which is probably academic anyway, if he is indeed off to Turkiye. New signing Donyell Malen isn’t eligible.
As for Monaco, it’s all a bit vague but from what I can see, they have several players coming back from injury or illness, with Denis Zakaria, as well as Aleksandr Golovin who was ill, Christian Mawissa and Wilfried Singo all available and it appears they’re practically at full strength.
So if Monaco are going to get one goal, logically we’re also going to get one. In which case, could it be Duran who gets it? My guess is yes he will. The big question there is will he start or come on as sub?
Either way, that’s my prediction. A 1-1 draw.
UTV!
Another early kick off, don’t forget chaps.
22 euro for a ticket for the Monaco fans.
Rip off Britain or what?
You are kidding? Probably subsidised by the casinos!
And welcome Andres Garcia! 🙂 Apparently we’ve uncovered a hidden gem!
Hopefully, if he messes up nobody will be shouting ‘Bring Me The Head Of Andres Garcia’!!! 🙂
Even though they beat them 3-0 at The Emirates, Arteta’s on record as saying they caused Arsenal problems – very quick, lots of movement – ‘caused chaos’ were his words.
I’m concerned the squad is very thin and we had a tough game Saturday evening. With very little rotation available to Emery, I think we will struggle tonight so I can’t honestly see us getting anything from this game.
If Monaco win, which is my prediction, they will be on the same number of points as us and we’ll drop out of the top 8.
Wish I was more optimistic.
PS I think Duran will start.
I think we’ll be on fire tonight Hitch. That was a fantastic comeback at the Emirates. Monaco are also decimated by injuries and suspensions so we won’t be facing the same squad as Arsenal. They also haven’t won in 10 games…
Would love a draw and to make top 8 would be an amazing achievement come on boys
What an away game for the fans as well definitely wish I was there
See Carlos might be going to the dog heads – reported they have ‘matched’ Fenerbache’s fee of £10m.
Carlos joined in 2022 for a fee of £26m so, dependant on when he joined (in 2022), if we get £10m that will at worst balance the books but if he joined in early 2022 will show a nice profit in this years accounts.
Jack Grealish speaking to The Telegraph: “It’s a club that is so close to my heart and I definitely hope to go back there. That’s always been in my mind. Ashley Young has done it and I want to do the same, 100 per cent.”
I do like Jack, but don’t think this would work.
Stylian Petrov on TalkShite tomorrow afternoon if anyone is interested.
It seems Monchi has stopped Carlos going to Fener until we’ve got Loïc Badé signed.
The conspiracy theorist in me thinks that’s all very convenient and this is a smokescreen because the defender would prefer to go to Wolves or at the very least, talk to them, where he won’t even have to move house.
It would be a bit daft to sell Carlos without first securing his replacement – don’t you think?
Yes, very probably so and it seems it’s a ploy to not make us desperate to sign Bade.
Still very convenient though.
Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Tielemans, Kamara, Buendia, Bailey, Rogers, Watkins
Looks like Tielemans will be playing in a more withdrawn position to fill in for Onana. Think that weakens us an attacking force.
Is Buendia in the shop window?
Well, we are open to letting him go.
He needs to show something tonight.
Monaco 1-3 Aston Villa
Up the Villa!
What arseholes putting the sprinklers on during the warm up?
Bang out of order.
For fuck sake how many early goals what a crap start
What a surprise. One down early on again.
Pathetic.
WHAT A SAVE!
Watching this for 20 minutes and these lot are shite, absolutely there for the taking?
Ffs Unai let them off the leash.
What a keeper thank fuck we have him
We deserve to be 2-0 down. That was the worst piece of defending (not including direct mistakes) that I’ve seen from that back line combo, and boy we’ve seen some howlers.
Final third we’ve actually looked okay, apart from the ones we’re lying to ourselves about pretending they contribute when they actually offer naff all. Lets stop lying to ourselves.
Buendia has done well IMO. Bailey will hopefully be off at HT.
Still think we’ve got a good chance of winning. UTV
I’d almost scarifice a defender or midfielder and pop Duran on as well. We can beat these…
All this talk of Buendia being loaned out or sold – please think again Unai – he’s played really well.
If only our defenders stopped giving the ball to the opposition.
First effort on goal and we go behind! How many times is that now? A corner from a really poor Mings pass and as usual we start slowly, sloppy and complacent. We can’t expect to win many games from poor starts. Clearly they see the best chance to score is from a quick counter attack. Luckily they didn’t go 2-0 up on the stroke of half time.
Question to everyone on here. Who would you rather see leave, Buendia or Bailey? We would be stupid to let little Emi go IMO. He looks sharp and shows good rapport with Digne.
Second half we need to get Duran on quickly. Take Bailey the flake off who has wasted 2 BIG chances!
I don’t think either are good enough, I’m afraid.
We need better.
I guess Bailey will score now.
If they score again, this game is over.
We’re falling apart, sorry lads but this is poor football from us, Rodgers hitting players passing the ball, Mings getting caught , Bailey looks as if he doesn’t won’t to be there. We are definitely not going anywhere with football like this .
Looking out on our feet now.
Monaco looking the more likely.
Tired legs, tired minds and now too many mistakes.
On to next Wednesday and we’ll definitely need a win but it won’t be easy against Celtic.
Why have two centre forwards in the pitch and not kick one ball up to them!
Pathetic